From the moment KEMET was founded in 1919, our employees were inventing new technologies. In fact, it was a patent filed by our founder Hugh S. Cooper that caught the attention of Union Carbide and made KEMET possible. In our early days, we were primarily a research and development division of our then parent company. We enabled a new era of electronics with the patented KEMET getter, which improved vacuum tubes and was critical to the success of early electronic devices such as radios and TVs.

From the very beginning, in 1919, KEMET has attributed its growth and success to the people who have helped develop it. From leading scientists to manufacturing line employees and quality control professionals, every single person who works at KEMET is crucial to our story and prosperity. The people of KEMET have discovered and engineered solutions that have propelled our future and yours. We rely on brilliant individuals who help create innovative products, resolving customer challenges. We could not achieve our goals without our people. As part of our centennial celebration, we asked our colleagues from around the globe to tell us what they think and how they feel about KEMET. Below, you’ll have an opportunity to read their responses. While their answers vary, there is one theme that runs throughout: they are all passionate about their role at this company. That is the essential component that makes up KEMET’s success.

A lot of history happens over the course of 100 years. We know. We’ve been around for a century’s worth of technological advances and milestones. What does it mean to celebrate one hundred years of history? It means looking back on all the moments we’re proud to have been a part of and looking ahead at what that means for the future of science and innovation. KEMET was there when the first computer paved the way for the sleek smartphones we now carry in the palms of our hands. KEMET was there when the first communications satellite was launched into orbit. And KEMET was also there when man first reached beyond our atmosphere and left a footprint on the moon. But these are just a few of the instances that have shaped our history. Because we’ve fused our commitment to innovation by sticking to our mission of making the world a better, safer, more connected place to live, the results are a healthy list of some remarkable moments. Take a journey with us through a timeline of historic moments where we can proudly say, “KEMET was there.”

We take technology for granted today, each of us effortlessly interacting with computers for hours upon hours throughout the day. Yet less than a century ago, computers as we know them didn’t exist. When they first came into being, KEMET was there. KEMET getters, found inside of vacuum tubes, were essential in pushing technology forward through the 1930s and 1940s.

Sometimes called the “Venice of China,” because of its system of canals and waterways, Suzhou, China is a fascinating city. It’s located about 62 miles northwest of Shanghai, in the eastern part of China. Founded in 514 B.C.E., Suzhou is known historically for high culture, elegance, and the royal silk trade. The city is home to over 60 classical gardens, which collectively form a UNESCO World Heritage site. Popular with tourists, visitors flock to the many ancient temples, palaces, and fortifications. Since the late 1970s, Suzhou has become one of the fastest growing major cities in the world. Suzhou is a major economic center and the world’s largest producer of laptop computers.

With over 800 people in attendance, our KEMET manufacturing facility in Indonesia celebrated 100 years of innovation with food, family and fun. Our Batam location opened its doors in 2007 and is dedicated to manufacturing film capacitors. Today, the plant is home to more than 500 employees, and at the heart of this community is family, both within KEMET and outside the company. The team has hosted employee events every year since 2015, but for this centennial celebration, KEMET hosted it at the Sea Adventure Forest Park in Batam! Spouses and family were in attendance, resonating with their motto, “Family is our motivation and high quality production is our goal.” This is a memory that KEMET is proud to be a part of.

Automobiles have been a part of human history since the late 1800s. Much more than just a way to get from here to there, cars are central to our daily lives and even our identities. There are probably as many opinions about cars as there are models out there for purchase. Some enthusiasts rise early to polish another coat of wax on their vintage 1959 Chevrolet Apache truck. Others can’t wait to take their Formula One-style racer out for a hair-raising spin. Some are all about the sleek technology in the electric car they drive today. Whether you are a vintage car fanatic, or looking forward the first version of a commercially available autonomous vehicle - KEMET is there.

Over the last century, KEMET has made history for quite a few achievements and revolutions in metallurgy, electronics, and emerging technologies. But one of the more notable advances has happened over the course of the last two decades upon KEMET’s transition into a major global corporation. As one of the world’s largest users of tantalum, it is important to promote the sustainability in our direct operations and supply chain.